Posted by Damos on February 7, 2006, at 20:00:12
In reply to Re: i can see why » crushedout, posted by Gabbix2 on February 7, 2006, at 18:15:11
In all honesty all I expected was a reply from Bob saying; "Thanks, but the block stays." Or one of his wonderfully carefully worded explanations that leaves you more dazed and confused than you started out, and questioning the question you asked.
Thank you all. The deeper truth behind my concerns is slowly revealing itself as I half hoped it might.
Gabbi, you are so right that this would have been the last one I'd have picked and that was part of my concern. I have personally felt/sensed for a while that certain subjects may have been 'unofficially' declared taboo, and that some PBCs and blocks have had more to do with this than any perceived incivility in the particular post. If this is the case, then it concerns me greatly. I may very well be wrong, as I quite often am. However, if I am just the tiniest bit right, how does any babbler then protect themselves from crossing lines they can't see; the hurt of being blocked, and the hurt others that care for them experience from their absence? Particularly on a Politics board.
To me, the possibility of using PBCs and blocks in an attempt to stop people talking about things you don't want talked about, in effect censoring discussion; or worse yet because you don't like the way I question and challenge certain things is a squirmy, squirmy can of wormies. Again, particularly on a Politics board. It becomes about what you like or don't like and not about 'civility' at all.
Maybe it's just our part of the world, but tilting at institutional windmills, barbecuing the occasional sacred cow, and having a healthy disrespect for most things and the ability to 'take the piss' out of all we hold dear are considered essential parts of a healthy, robust society. I can pretty much guarantee that if people had a go at Australia's Prime Minister, most of our institutions and some of our behaviour at home and abroad; that Declan and I would probably join in the bagging because we most likely agree, and because (in my personal opinion) a fair bit of it is absurd and ridiculous and unjustifiable and just plain stupid when you really seriously begin to question it.
So, if as I am increasingly personally feeling, America, the American 'ideal', all her institutions, office holders and actions are beyond question and criticism (by any babbler), then let's just say so. Personally I don't give a 'rats' one way or the other. Politics as such just doesn't interest me that much. What I do care about is the welfare of my fellow babblers. What I do care about is the personal discomfort that is necessary to healthy dialogue where you open up your assumptions, judgements and certainty about things to be seen by others, questioned, challenged and just maybe even changed a little as something new and important emerges - shared meaning, shared understanding, or just agreement to disagree - sigh. These things matter to me. The revealing of deeper truths and meanings matter to me. Is the process unnerving, unsettling and uncomfortable? Abso-bloody-lutley and that's why we shy away from 'real' dialogue so often. Because it makes us uncomfortable. But is it important? Yes! Yes! Yes! Just so incredibly so.
I am now stepping down from my soap box, with any luck never to return. Normal Damos programming will resume shortly (I hope). Thanks for listening.
Bob, if I've overstepped then I apologise and will take it on the chin. I hope I haven't
(((((Babblers))))) you all mean so very much to me.
poster:Damos
thread:607029
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060111/msgs/607332.html